Kolkata Metro authorities are planning to add another station on the Orange Line extension from Michael Nagar in Madhyamgram to Barasat. They have already sent a letter to Madhyamgram Municipality Chairman Nimai Ghosh, proposing a new station near the Bose Institute along Jessore Road. In the letter, officials asked for details such as the mouza, plot number, khatian number and the present market price of the land.
A few months ago, metro authorities had also sought permission from the chairmen of both Madhyamgram and Barasat municipalities to conduct soil testing at four locations in Madhyamgram and five in Barasat. Naturally, residents of Barasat and nearby areas are hopeful that the long-awaited metro extension will finally progress. Every day, around two and a half lakh people travel from Barasat to Kolkata using trains, buses or other transport. Sealdah–Bangaon trains remain overcrowded, especially during office hours. To offer a smooth and faster journey and avoid daily traffic jams along Jessore Road and National Highway 12 up to the airport, metro authorities want to begin the Barasat extension work soon.
Previous plans
In 2010–11, then Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee had announced the Barasat–Noapara Metro project. The Orange Line is divided into two parts. The first covers Noapara, Dum Dum Cantonment, Jessore Road, Birati and Michael Nagar. Noapara and Dum Dum Cantonment stations are elevated and already operational. From Jessore Road onward, the route will go underground. The second part extends from Michael Nagar to Barasat, but the work stopped earlier due to land disputes. Airport authorities had also objected to an elevated section.
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It was later decided that the stretch from Michael Nagar to Barasat would be fully underground. The 12.95 km corridor will run from Michael Nagar to Shuripur via Madhyamgram Scout Ground, Ganganagar Katakhal, Barasat’s Purbachal, KNC Road, Kachari Maath, Barnali Sangha in Ward 13, and the railway car shed area.
The proposed stations include Bidhanpalli, Madhyamgram Chowmatha, Hridaypur, Barasat Vidyasagar Stadium, Kachari Maidan, Barasat Railway Car Shed, Joypur near Jessore Road and Shuripur near NH-12. A metro depot is also planned at Joypur. Confirming the new proposal, Chairman Nimai Ghosh said, “I received the letter on Tuesday. They have asked for details of land near the Bose Institute, including plot and khatian numbers, mouza and current market value.”
